Written Answers Friday 1 May 2009

Scottish Executive

Bankruptcy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were declared bankrupt in the last quarter of 2007, also broken down by sheriffdom.

Fergus Ewing: There were 1,469 awards of bankruptcy made during the last quarter of 2006 (from 1 October 2006 to 31 December 2006). A breakdown of the figures by sheriffdom is shown in the following table. Awards made by the Court of Session and remitted to a sheriff court have been recorded against that sheriff court.

  Further information regarding bankruptcy figures, including the agency’s annual reports, are available on the Accountant in Bankruptcy website, www.aib.gov.uk.

  October to December 2006 by Sheriffdom

  

 Tayside, Central and Fife 


 Alloa
 14


 Arbroath
 8


 Cupar
 18


 Dundee
 111


 Dunfermline
 46


 Falkirk
 54


 Forfar
 10


 Kirkcaldy
 63


 Perth
 39


 Stirling
 18


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 381


 South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway 


 Airdrie
 71


 Ayr
 42


 Dumfries
 16


 Hamilton
 105


 Kirkcudbright
 9


 Lanark
 23


 Stranraer
 10


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 276


 North Strathclyde 


 Campbeltown
 4


 Dumbarton
 45


 Dunoon 
 8


 Greenock
 10


 Kilmarnock
 89


 Oban 
 2


 Paisley
 27


 Rothesay
 0


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 185


 Grampian, Highland and Islands 


 Aberdeen
 76


 Banff 
 3


 Dingwall 
 5


 Dornoch
 2


 Elgin
 28


 Fort William 
 6


 Inverness 
 26


 Kirkwall 
 5


 Lerwick 
 2


 Lochmaddy
 1


 Peterhead
 15


 Portree 
 1


 Stonehaven 
 10


 Stornoway 
 4


 Tain
 6


 Wick
 2


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 192


 Lothian and Borders 


 Duns
 2


 Edinburgh
 114


 Haddington
 27


 Jedburgh
 4


 Linlithgow
 54


 Peebles
 5


 Selkirk
 4


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 210


 Glasgow and Strathkelvin


 Glasgow
 225


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 225


 Total Awards 
 1,469

Bankruptcy

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were declared bankrupt in the last quarter of 2006, also broken down by sheriffdom.

Fergus Ewing: There were 1,519 awards of bankruptcy made during the last quarter of 2007 (from 1 October 2007 to 31 December 2007). A breakdown of the figures by sheriffdom is shown in the following table. Awards made by the Court of Session and remitted to a sheriff court have been recorded against that sheriff court.

  Further information regarding bankruptcy figures, including the Agency’s annual reports, are available on the Accountant in Bankruptcy website, www.aib.gov.uk.

  October to December 2007 by Sheriffdom

  

 Tayside, Central and Fife 


 Alloa
 16


 Arbroath
 8


 Cupar
 24


 Dundee
 140


 Dunfermline
 53


 Falkirk
 47


 Forfar
 7


 Kirkcaldy
 54


 Perth
 43


 Stirling
 16


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 408


 South Strathclyde, Dumfries and Galloway 


 Airdrie
 60


 Ayr
 40


 Dumfries
 24


 Hamilton
 116


 Kirkcudbright
 5


 Lanark
 16


 Stranraer
 10


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 271


 North Strathclyde 


 Campbeltown
 3


 Dumbarton
 45


 Dunoon 
 6


 Greenock
 29


 Kilmarnock
 56


 Oban 
 7


 Paisley
 62


 Rothesay
 3


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 211


 Grampian, Highland and Islands 


 Aberdeen
 59


 Banff 
 4


 Dingwall 
 6


 Dornoch
 0


 Elgin
 21


 Fort William 
 3


 Inverness 
 20


 Kirkwall 
 5


 Lerwick 
 2


 Lochmaddy
 0


 Peterhead
 14


 Portree 
 5


 Stonehaven 
 8


 Stornoway 
 2


 Tain
 3


 Wick
 3


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 155


 Lothian and Borders 


 Duns
 3


 Edinburgh
 122


 Haddington
 53


 Jedburgh
 4


 Linlithgow
 54


 Peebles
 2


 Selkirk
 13


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 251


 Glasgow and Strathkelvin


 Glasgow
 223


 Total awards for Sheriffdom
 223


 Total Awards 
 1,519

Crime

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people aged (a) under 18 and (b) 18 and over were convicted of possession of an offensive weapon in the Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary area in each year since 2005-06.

Kenny MacAskill: The available information is contained in the following table.

  Persons in the Dumfries and Galloway Police Force Area with a Charge Proved in Court for Handling an Offensive Weapon1,2, 2005-06 - 2007-08

  

 Age Group
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Under 18 
 7
 8
 10


 18 and over 
 34
 65
 71



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence

  2. "Handling an offensive weapon" covers the crime categories "possession of an offensive weapon", "restriction of an offensive weapon" and "having in a public place an article with a blade or point".

Crime

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes were committed by people under 18 in Dumfries and Galloway in 2008 and of these how many were committed by (a) first-time and (b) repeat offenders and how many of the repeat offenders committed (i) two, (ii) three, (iii) four, (iv) five to 10 and (v) more than 10 crimes.

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes were committed by people under 18 in Dumfries and Galloway in 2007 and of these how many were committed by (a) first-time and (b) repeat offenders and how many of the repeat offenders committed (i) two, (ii) three, (iii) four, (iv) five to 10 and (v) more than 10 crimes.

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes were committed by people under 18 in Dumfries and Galloway in 2006 and of these how many were committed by (a) first-time and (b) repeat offenders and how many of the repeat offenders committed (i) two, (ii) three, (iii) four, (iv) five to 10 and (v) more than 10 crimes.

Kenny MacAskill: This information has been taken from the Scottish Government’s Court Proceedings database and does not include young people who have been referred to the reporter. The latest year for which data is available is 2007-08 and data has been provided for the three most recent years.

  Number of Individual People with a Charge Proved in Dumfries and Galloway Police Force Area, by Number of Offences Committed1 (i.e. Including their Most Recent Offence)

  

 Financial Year
 No Previous Offences 
(i.e. One Offence)
 Two Offences
 Three Offences
 Four Offences
 Five to 10 Offences
 More than 10 Offences
 Total


 2005-06
 102
 36
 24
 6
 15
 1
 184


 2006-07
 90
 37
 16
 12
 7
 1
 163


 2007-08
 92
 25
 11
 7
 17
 -
 152



  Note: 1. Offences committed back to 1 April 1997.

Crime

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes were committed by people under 18 in the Scottish Borders in 2008 and of these how many were committed by (a) first-time and (b) repeat offenders and how many of the repeat offenders committed (i) two, (ii) three, (iii) four, (iv) five to 10 and (v) more than 10 crimes.

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes were committed by people under 18 in the Scottish Borders in 2007 and of these how many were committed by (a) first-time and (b) repeat offenders and how many of the repeat offenders committed (i) two, (ii) three, (iii) four, (iv) five to 10 and (v) more than 10 crimes.

Derek Brownlee (South of Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes were committed by people under 18 in the Scottish Borders in 2006 and of these how many were committed by (a) first-time and (b) repeat offenders and how many of the repeat offenders committed (i) two, (ii) three, (iii) four, (iv) five to 10 and (v) more than 10 crimes.

Kenny MacAskill: This information has been taken from the Scottish Government’s Court Proceedings database and does not include young people who have been referred to the Reporter. The latest year for which data is available is 2007-08 and data has been provided for the three most recent years.

  Number of Individual People with a Charge Proved in Scottish Borders Local Authority area1, by Number of Offences Committed2,3 (i.e. Including their most Recent Offence)

  

 Financial Year
 No previous Offences 
(i.e. One Offence)
 Two Offences
 Three Offences
 Four Offences
 Five to 10 Offences
 More than 10 Offences
 Total


 2005-06
 82
 31
 7
 7
 4
 -
 131


 2006-07
 94
 22
 5
 2
 6
 -
 129


 2007-08
 83
 29
 8
 7
 3
 -
 130



  Notes:

  1. Incorporates an approximate mapping of sheriff courts into local authority areas.

  2. Offences committed back to 1 April 1997.

  3. Excludes High Court offences.

Drug Misuse

Gavin Brown (Lothians) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what quantity of drugs was seized in the Lothians region in each year since 1999, broken down by class of drug.

Fergus Ewing: Data on drug seizures is available by police force region, and not by parliamentary region.

  Figures for the years 1999 to 2006-07 are given in the following publications list, copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre. The following table provide details of quantities of drug seizures by class.

  

 Year of Seizures
 Publication
 Tables
Bib.Number


 1999
 Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2001
 104
 20860


 2000
 Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2002
 E2.2
 27706


 2001
 Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2003
 E2.2
 32141


 2002
 Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2004
 E2.2
 36121


 2003
 Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2005
 D2.2
 38474


 2004-05 and 2005-06
 Drug Seizures by Scottish Police Forces, 2004-2005 and 2005-2006
 15,16,17, 18,19,20
 42386


 2005-06 and 2006-07
 Drug Seizures by Scottish Police Forces, 2005-2006 and 2006-2007
 15,16,17, 18,19,20
 45847



  Figures for 2007-08 and 2008-09 are due to be published in October 2009.

European Year of Innovation and Creativity 2009

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether national co-ordinators have been appointed for the European Year of Innovation and Creativity 2009.

Michael Russell: Each member state appoints a national co-ordinator for the European Year of Creativity and Innovation 2009. The national co-ordinator for the UK is Tim Heyes, who was appointed by the UK Departments of Children, Schools and Families and Culture, Media and Sport.

First Minister

Robin Harper (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive on what basis the First Minister stated in a letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 25 February 2008 that the proposed acquisition by Edinburgh Zoo of giant pandas was "primarily a commercial transaction which the Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to underwrite".

Michael Russell: The First Minister’s statement in his letter to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 25 February 2008, that the proposed acquisition by Edinburgh Zoo of giant pandas was "primarily a commercial transaction which the Royal Bank of Scotland has agreed to underwrite", was based on advice provided by the Royal Zoological Society of Edinburgh.

Hedges

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcomes have been of its discussions about high hedges with groups and organisations, as referred to by the Cabinet Secretary for Justice in a parliamentary debate on 2 April 2009 ( Official Report c. 16554).

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether disputes about high hedges will be covered by the national framework for preventing antisocial behaviour or by separate legislation.

Fergus Ewing: The Scottish Government had a very productive meeting with Scothedge, the organisation which seeks to secure legislation on this issue in Scotland, on 2 April 2009. I wrote to the Public Petitions Committee on 23 April to provide its members with an update and a copy of the note of the meeting’s outcomes, which had been agreed with Scothedge. My letter and the meeting note can be viewed on the Parliament’s website at www.scottish.parliament.uk , under Written Submissions for Petition PE984.

Housing

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it supports the target being promoted by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations of building 10,000 affordable homes for rent in the next 12 months.

Alex Neil: The Scottish Government fully supports the aims of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations to deliver increasing numbers of affordable homes across Scotland. We are working with them, and their members, and providing record levels of investment to the sector.

Housing

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22157 by Fergus Ewing on 1 April 2009, whether it will consider amending houses in multiple occupation legislation as a measure to prevent antisocial behaviour by people using short-term holiday lets.

Alex Neil: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-23136 on 29 April 2009 All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Housing

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it envisages preventing antisocial behaviour by people using short-term holiday lets.

Fergus Ewing: I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-22157 on 1 April 2009. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx .

Housing

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-22155 by Alex Neil on 9 April 2009, whether it considers that holiday lets are covered under Part 7 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004.

Alex Neil: Part 7 of the Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 (the 2004 Act) provides that a local authority can issue an Antisocial Behaviour Notice (ABN) on the landlord of a relevant house where the tenant or occupant is engaging in antisocial behaviour. We consider that a house occupied under a holiday let would be included in the definition of a "relevant house" for the purposes of the 2004 act.

Housing

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what evidence it is aware of that some landlords may be evading houses in multiple occupation licensing requirements by claiming that properties are being let on a short-term basis and that tenants have principal residences elsewhere.

Alex Neil: Local authority officials, at a meeting of the Scottish Houses in Multiple Occupation Networking Group and in direct contact, have informed the Scottish Government of concerns, based on their experience, that some landlords may be evading the requirements for licensing of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) by claiming that properties are let on a short-term basis and that tenants have principal residences elsewhere. This was identified as a particular concern in relation to the accommodation of migrant workers.

  As previously stated, we will be considering the options for implementing new HMO provisions in the Housing (Scotland) Act 2006 later this year. The issue of short-term lets, and what types of accommodation require to be licensed under those provisions, will be part of our discussions with stakeholders.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to extend curfew orders.

Fergus Ewing: We have no plans currently. However, as part of the new antisocial behaviour framework Promoting Positive Outcomes: Working Together to Prevent Antisocial Behaviour in Scotland (Bib. number 47915) we propose to consult on any changes to Antisocial Behaviour etc. (Scotland) Act 2004 and related legislation, which would include such orders.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will detail its expenditure on visits to the Red Hook Community Justice Centre in New York in relation to the development of a pilot community court in the east end of Glasgow, broken down by (a) date of trip, (b) person travelling, (c) reason for visit and (d) items covered.

Kenny MacAskill: A visit to New York was undertaken by Cathy Jamieson, then Minister for Justice, Elizabeth Carmichael, Head of Community Justice Services Division, John Ewing, Chief Executive of the Scottish Court Service, Francesca Osowska, Head of Reducing Reoffending Division, Jeane Freeman, Senior Special Adviser and Penny Curtis, Minister’s Private Secretary between 16 and 19 February 2004.

  The purpose of the visit was to learn more about the criminal justice process in New York and elsewhere in the United States and to discuss the system with those managing and delivering the services with particular references to the community justice centres at Red Hook, Brooklyn and Midtown, New York. Meetings were held with:

  Criminal Justice Co-ordinator from the New York Mayor’s Office;

  Deputy Commissioner of the New York Police Department;

  Representatives with the North Carolina and New York Departments of Corrections;

  Judge Juanita Bing Newton;

  District Attorney, and

  magistrates and clerks from Midtown Community Court.

  Visits were made to a number of criminal justice initiatives including:

  Midtown Community Court;

  Red Hook Community Justice Centre;

  The Centre for Employment Opportunities;

  Beacon Project;

  Project Greenlight, and

  Brooklyn Treatment Court.

  We do not have exact costs for the visit but have established that, excluding flights, expenses were approximately £650 per person (including accommodation and meals). Flights were arranged according to the SE Air Travel Policy.

Life Expectancy

Marlyn Glen (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the figures for life expectancy have been for (a) Scotland and (b) the NHS Tayside area since 2004.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information is as follows:

  

 
 2003-05
 2004-06
 2005-07


 Male
 Female
 Male
 Female
 Male
 Female


 Scotland 
 74.2
 79.2
 74.6
 79.6
 74.8
 79.7


 NHS Tayside
 75.0
 79.5
 75.4
 80.1
 75.6
 80.4



  Life expectancy for administrative areas within Scotland is calculated and published annually by the General Register Office for Scotland:

  http://www.gro-scotland.gov.uk/statistics/publications-and-data/life-expectancy/index.html.

NHS Finance

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what financial assistance it is providing to NHS Western Isles in terms of its cumulative deficit of £3.1 million.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Government is providing resources of £3.1 million to NHS Western Isles to clear a deficit built up in previous years. NHS Western Isles has balanced its books over the past two years (2007-08 and 2008-09) and the Scottish Government has now agreed a forward financial plan.

  The Scottish Government will continue its work to assist the board, which is now also supported by its partner board, NHS Highland, in areas including human resources, governance and planning. Additional annual funding of £0.25 million has also been provided by the Scottish Government to support this collaborative working partnership.

  This brokerage agreement is testimony to the Scottish Government’s commitment to patients in the Western Isles. NHS Western Isles has already come a long way to turn around its financial situation and we want to give the board a fresh start so that it can lay strong foundations for the future. This support is recognition of the progress that has been made to date. The repayment of brokerage means the board takes responsibility for the past, but in a manageable way, ensuring patient services will not be affected. The board is expected to make repayments over a period of six financial years commencing 2012-13.

Older People

Irene Oldfather (Cunninghame South) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to ensure that good quality information is provided to people diagnosed with dementia and their carers.

Shona Robison: NHS Scotland’s publications Coping with Dementia – a Handbook for Carers (Bib. number No. 47699) and the recently updated Worried about your Memory? (Bib. number 47925) and Facing Dementia: how to live well with your diagnosis (Bib. number 47926) are widely available for people with dementia and their carers and families.

  Facing Dementia provides practical information for people who have recently been diagnosed with dementia. Worried about your memory? is aimed at helping people who are concerned about their memory to decide whether they should see a doctor.

  We also work closely with and provide grant funding to Alzheimer Scotland and the Dementia Services Development Centre who have a key role to play in providing information for people with dementia, their carers and families.

Regeneration

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it will make available to support town centre regeneration in (a) east and (b) south Ayrshire.

Alex Neil: Decisions on the amount of resources allocated to the regeneration of town centres is a matter for local authorities in consultation with partners.

  We announced on 30 April that a dedicated £60 million Town Centre Regeneration Fund was open for applications. This fund will complement efforts underway to support town centres across Scotland which are feeling the effects of the economic downturn. Bodies including local authorities, Community Planning Partnerships, Business Improvement Districts, Town Centre Managers, local Chambers of Commerce, businesses and third sector groups are eligible to apply.

Road Accidents

Willie Coffey (Kilmarnock and Loudoun) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when the last fatal accident inquiry into the death of a pedestrian at a level crossing took place.

Frank Mulholland QC: Whilst it is possible to provide the number of Fatal Accident Inquiries which are concluded in any given year, information about the subject matter of these Inquiries is not held centrally and it is not possible to identify when the last fatal accident inquiry into the death of a pedestrian at a level crossing took place.

Scottish Government Cabinet

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-15794 by Bruce Crawford on 17 September 2009, what the final figures relating to the cost of the 2008 summer Cabinet programme were, broken down by (a) staff time, (b) staff travel, (c) staff accommodation, (d) ministerial accommodation, (e) venue hire and set up, (f) publicity and (g) miscellaneous expenses.

Bruce Crawford: The total costs of the programme, and a breakdown by each of the four locations, are published on the Scottish Government website. This information can be accessed through the following link http://www.scotland.gov.uk/About/14944/costs/

  Staff time relating to the 2008 summer Cabinet programme is not separately identifiable from other work done by officials.

Scottish Government Funding

Robert Brown (Glasgow) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it intends to continue with the Fairer Scotland Fund after 2010-11.

Alex Neil: The Fairer Scotland Fund will be rolled up and included as part of the local government finance settlement from 2010-11. Decisions on future funding beyond 2010-11 will be subject to the next spending review.

Correction

The reply to question S3W- 22409 which was originally answered on 21 April 2008, has been corrected: see page 6096 or http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/business/pqa/wa-09/wa0427.htm.